H D - S E L E C T

A view on HD
DVDs by Yunda Eddie Feng

Introduction:
Hello, Beaver readers! I became a serious cineophile in
1994 when I saw Schindler's Liston my birthday. I
realized that movies weren't just for fun--they could be
serious art, too (even mainstream popcorn flicks if
they're made with skill). Although I have a BA in
English, I went to grad school for an MA in Film
Studies. There, I met my mentor Dr. Warren Buckland, who
shares my interest in Steven Spielberg's artistry
(Spielberg and art aren't mutually exclusive). I helped
edit Dr. Buckland's book Directed by Steven Spielberg:
Poetics of the Contemporary Hollywood Blockbuster. I also
contributed a chapter to Dr. Buckland's forthcoming
anthology of essays about "complex storytelling"
movies--movies that avoid classical linear storylines in
favor of temporal disruptions, unreliable narrators, metatheatrical/"self-aware" references, etc.

There is something intrinsically ridiculous about zombie movies. No
matter how scary they want to be, the spectacle of famished corpses
lurching and groaning with their insatiable hunger for flesh and blood
is worth at least a titter. The British horror comedy Shaun of the
Dead skillfully plays off that ridiculousness by implying that
Britain may already be populated with the living dead, metaphorically
speaking.

By treating the genre as a joke, this satire, whose title plays off
George A. Romero’s 1979 golden oldie, Dawn of the Dead, yields
ironic dramatic dividends. As the number of zombies popping out of
their graves multiplies exponentially, the monster population density on
the streets of North London makes things increasingly creepy. The
motley Londoners who face down the creatures are so inept and unthinking
in their response to the catastrophe that the uncharitable part of you
may decide that they deserve their probable (but not guaranteed) fates
during what panicked television comm

The 2.35:1 1080p picture has a lightly grainy look that is par for indie
productions using inexpensive film stock. Nevertheless, the image looks
quite good, with solid, natural colors. The level of sharpness and
detail frequently match the more-recent Hot Fuzz.

Audio:

Designed as a low-budget spoof of low-budget zombie movies, the
movie’s DD Plus 5.1 English track is not very dynamic despite
Shaun of the Dead’s recent vintage. Most of the action takes
place in the front center channel, though playful zombie noises pop
up in the other speakers, particularly the rear ones, from time to
time. The subwoofer rumbles occasionally but never really threatens
to take over the room.

You can also watch the movie with a DD Plus 5.1 French dub.
Optional English SDH and French subtitles support the audio.

Extras:

There are two audio commentaries, one by director Edgar Wright and
Simon Pegg, the other by principal members of the cast. All the
participants express their affection for zombie movies and the
production, though their energy can be a bit wearying.

You can watch the movie with the Zomb-O-Meter, which is a subtitle
track with trivia about this and other zombie movies. The
“Storyboard Comparison” allows you to see how certain sequences were
first envisioned.

Zombie Gallery is a collection of stills and posters. Missing Bits
provides a selection of deleted scenes and outtakes, and TV Bits has a
handful of promos that were shown on TV. You also get the movie’s
theatrical trailer.